Louisiana Virus Rules Dispute Returned to Lower Court
The Louisiana Supreme Court on Dec. 21 sent a legal feud between Gov. John Bel Edwards and House Republicans over coronavirus restrictions back to district court, saying the judge ruled too quickly that the state law the GOP used to try to nullify the restrictions was unconstitutional.
The justices wrote in their opinion that Baton Rouge Judge William Morvant should have held a full hearing on other issues raised in the lawsuit over the Democratic governor’s statewide mask mandate, business restrictions and crowd size limits aimed at combating the spread of COVID-19.
Louisiana Supreme Court sends Lawsuit over Governor’s COVID-19 Restrictions Back to District Court
December 22, 2020
On Monday, the Louisiana Supreme Court sent a lawsuit between Gov. John Bel Edwards and Republican members of the Louisiana House of Representatives over COVID-19 restrictions back to the district court, stating that the district judge ruled too quickly when he stated that the state law used to attempt to void the restrictions was unconstitutional, according to an article by the Associated Press.
“Today’s action by the Supreme Court maintains that Louisiana is not a dictatorship. No elected official, including the Governor, can ignore or reject the checks and balances that underpin our government,” reads a statement by Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry. “…As written in the law, the Legislature continues to hold the power to terminate the Governor’s declaration of emergency by petition. By failing to comply with this Legislative directive, the G
Paul Braun / WRKF
Gov. John Bel Edwards is extending his modified Phase 2 coronavirus restrictions through the holidays and into the new year.
The restrictions, which were set to expire Wednesday, will remain in effect through Jan. 13. They include a statewide mask mandate, limit most businesses to 50 percent occupancy, prohibit bars from serving people indoors, and impose 25 percent occupancy limits on wedding venues and high school sports stadiums. Churches are limited to 75 percent occupancy.
Edwards said many of the state’s coronavirus metrics have plateaued at a “very high level.” The governor said he was encouraged to see the state’s “percent positivity” over the last seven days decrease from 10.2 percent to 9.3 percent below the 10 percent benchmark recommended by public health officials.
DENVER Colorado’s legislature will go into recess soon after convening in January as lawmakers wait for COVID-19 cases to subside.
Democratic leaders said Monday that legislators will begin the new session Jan. 13 and address any urgent business and required actions, such as swearing in new members. They will then suspend the session.
The tentative plan is to reconvene Feb. 16, by which time legislative leaders hope the peak of the coronavirus pandemic will have subsided. They say lawmakers will resume work earlier if there is an emergency that requires immediate attention.
THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:
A new COVID-19 relief bill shaping up in Congress includes individual payments reaching $600 for most Americans and an extra $300 a week in unemployment benefits. Votes on the bill in the House and Senate are expected Monday. Among those getting help are hard-hit businesses, schools, health care providers and renters facing eviction. Also, President-elect Joe Biden will receive hi
9 & 10 News
December 21, 2020
OLYMPIA, Wash. Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee has announced new travel restrictions for people arriving from the United Kingdom and South Africa, where a new and seemingly more contagious strain of the coronavirus is circulating.
Inslee said Monday that he will order travelers coming from either of those two nations to quarantine for 14 days. Hes the order will cover passengers who have arrived from those countries in the past few days.
Inslee says the quarantine measures are precautionary and meant to stem a possible surge in cases that could overwhelm hospitals.
The quarantine is mandatory and although it is legally enforceable, Inslee says no one will be taken into custody over it.